Last week, l received a call which can be described as a very sad news intimating me of the sudden demise of an eldery friend who lives in the village somewhere in the eastern part of the country. He retired just three years back and has been the one shouldering the up keep and welfare of family member those he is expected to cater for their welfare.
I had asked the informant of what killed Dee Williams ? According to the information, he had developed slight stomach pain after eating from a bush canteen in the community and was asked to patronize a nearby medicine shop otherwise known locally as pharmacy shop or what is today known as “ killer shops”. They are littered everywhere and they operate without any official license. No wonder those who fall victim never report such unfortunate incidents to either the police, regulatory body or go to court for compensation.
Those who fall victim are usually buried without any noise because they used their legs and walk themselves into death. There is no statistics of the number of those who have died through this unfortunate process. The casualties are in their thousands and they include both the young and old, illiterates and even the educated.
So, it was a good news to many Nigerians who had lost their friends and close relatives, to hear that the regulatory body had been jump started like a dead battery, to start the new year bouncing like an over fed gorilla that is kicking and busting every closed shop and receiving thunderous applause while enemies of the regulatory body, who have only themselve and their pockets to protect are the ones crying wolf . These selfish few are the clog in the wheel of the progress being attained by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration Renewed Hope Agenda. These corrupt few, if not checked can somersault the government good intensions,
These powerful few have their tentacles spread into every sector in the administration. They are selfish, myopic cabals who are more interested in enriching their pockets without any good consideration for the public.
National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control founded by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in January 1993, currently headed by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye. Impressively, is carrying out its constitutional mandate. Among which is regulate, manufacture, importation, distribution, and sales of regulated products.
NAFDAC also monitors the pharmaceutical and agricultural industry.
NAFDAC issues guidelines on the approval and monitoring of advertisements. NAFDAC determines the suitability of products for human and animal use.
The raids in Onitsha, Aba, and Idumota led to the closure of thousands of shops, disrupting not only the illicit drug trade but also neighboring businesses that indirectly shield some of these medicine dealers. The country is presently being infested by the get rich quick mentality. You find them in all nooks and crannies around the country with the wrong notion that the long arms of the law would not catch up with their nefarious activities. These illegal operators believe that money which had become the god many people worship has become the tool to perpetrate their evil trade. They are ready to offer huge financial bribe to officers on operation. They can offer bribe to officers of the Economic and financial crime (Efcc’ just to avoid arrest for corruption, they would offer bribe to officers of the National drug and law enforcement agency, just to avoid being arrested for importing hard drugs. They are ready to bribe their way to secure contracts instead of bidding for the contract. They are always ready to offer bribe to Customs officials so that their goods are not confisticated and they would go the extra mile to avoid the Eagle eyes of the Immigrations officers at both the boarders and airports not to talk of everyday attempts to bribe police officers at every of their duty posts across the country. This is the reason why every one with good conscience , who fear God and wants the country to truely progress and not paying lip service, should rally round any government agency that is very committed in conscientiously carry out every operational duty assigned to her by the mandate in the constitution.
Raiding big markets around the states is a welcome development that should be appreciated by all well meaning Nigerians. Many years back, robbery became a crime for young boys and girls both educated and uneducated. It’s turn over in terms of financial outcome were mind burgling but the government and the security agency did not go to sleep. So, the squad known as “special anti robbery squad was formed specifically to stop the nefarious activities of the robbers who were then armed. At the end, many of them died during gun duel with armed police men. With the full support of the people and the determination of the security agencies especially the police, robbery as it was then, can be said to be almost eradicated. It is such courage and determination that can stop the faking of drugs that kill innocent citizens. I recall in the days of notorious armed robbers who were operating within our communities, patriotic members of the public were the ones that usually finger out these robbers to the police, such move should be emulated so that NAFDAC personels can always be on top of the war against fake drugs. The government should consider subsidizing drugs as the high cost is part of the reason for faking of drugs to be sold at very cheap rate. Last year, a successful raid carried out by officials of NAFDAC at Mararaba community in the surbubs of the Federal Capital territory part of Nasarawa state, where fake soft drinks and drugs were found. Such raid help to reduce and also stop these nefarious activities. Before the raid , many innocent residents of Abuja were oblivious of the fact that most minerals they were consuming were fake products and were inimical to their health. According to records NAFDAC was established to
SECURITY HINT
Sequel to increasing number of suicide cases in the country due to rising cost of living and challenging times, people nursing the idea to commit suicide are advised to open up and discuss their frustrations and problems with either close friends, relations, colleagues or religious leaders.
b: Do not stay alone at home.
c: Remember that God is against such action.
d: Avoid smoking , consuming alcoholic drinks and taking hard drugs .
e: Endevour to sing religious songs always, remember that many others are passing through the same frustrating situation
f: If you buy a drug without NAFDAC registration number or you notice any discrepancy
Please call the NAFDAC hotline:08001623322 or send and Email : [email protected]